JakeCooper

Biography

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A towering defender, Cooper joined up with our Academy as a 14-year-old in 2009 and attended the Forest School in Winnersh.

He received a call up to the England U18s squad in February 2013, and made his international debut for the team against Belgium.

It was to be a busy couple of months for the 6’4” defender as leading from the back that year, the Royals made it all the way to the U18s Premier League final in May – Cooper making 30 appearances and scoring four goals along the way.

And a month later, he put pen to paper signing his first professional contract that will run until the summer of 2016.

Stepping up to the U21s squad the following year, despite injury setbacks, Cooper played an important role at centre-half as the squad were crowned champions of the Premier League Cup in its inaugural season.

That summer, he was included in Nigel Adkins’ first team squad that travelled to a midlands training camp. Having been included in the side through pre-season, Cooper was ready to make his bow for the senior team at the start of the 2014/15 campaign.

His debut came at Madejski Stadium in our opening home league game against Ipswich, being introduced as an 87th minute substitute for Nick Blackman.

One of eleven Academy products to make their breakthrough that season, Cooper was widely used as first choice injury cover for Alex Pearce and Michael Hector, making 10(+9) appearances throughout.

Powerful in the air but assured with the ball at his feet, and had the foundations for becoming Pearce’s replacement when the time came.

He scored his first two Royals goals as a brace during our trip to Carrow Road in November. Coming from 1-0 down, Cooper rose above the Norwich defenders twice to find the back of the net and a much needed three points over eventual the play-off winners.

At only 20 years-old, when he wasn’t involved in first team fixtures, Cooper was able to play a part in the U21s promotion winning season to Premier League Division One – his three appearances at centre-back came against Brighton, West Brom and Huddersfield Town.

He left the club in the summer of 2017 to join Millwall on a permanent deal.